The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
Britain Goes With Pinzgauer in Afghanistan
by James Dunnigan
May 28, 2006
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
Britain is buying 80 armored trucks for
their troops in Afghanistan, who are facing a more hostile environment
that they did in Iraq. Eighty Pinzgauer military trucks are being
bought, at a cost of $788,000 each. The Pinzgauer was developed, in the
early 1970s, by the Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch (which now has an
assembly plant in Britain). This new cross country truck design proved
very popular with the civilian market, and then with military users.
Cheaper and, to their users, more versatile and reliable than trucks
from the larger military vehicle manufacturers, there are now over
30,000 Pinzgauers in service in 24 countries. The 4x4 wheel drive
models carry up to 2,400 pounds, the 6x6 3,300 pounds. Each can carry
twelve troops comfortably (and more than twice as many uncomfortably.)
The Pinzgauer has kept up with the competition. When the American
Humvee appeared two decades ago, the Pinzgauer design was modified to
create a wider, lower vehicle (a feature of the Humvee that proved very
successful). The Pinzgauer isn't cheaper than the Humvee, but is
considered a better value and, for nations with anti-American leanings,
makes them feel better.
The armored
model the British are getting is called the Pinzgauer Protector and is
a 6x6 vehicle that will protect its passengers from rifle bullets and
roadside bombs. The protection includes a Kevlar floor, bullet proof
glass and tires that will run when flat. The British, however, probably
won't get their vehicles until next Summer.
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